Which Smartphones are Best Bought as Refurbished Mobile Phones?

Everyone wants to own a brand new smartphone. No one can deny that it feels oddly satisfying to hold a new mobile phone in your hand. However, the thing is, brand new phones can be really expensive. As such, if you are looking to upgrade yourself, your best option is to buy refurbished mobile phones.

Refurbished phones, also known as pre-owned or reconditioned mobile phones, are devices that were sent back to customers because they were faulty or simply sold on by their previous owner. They are also smartphones that were returned by customers who changed their mind within the 30-day cooling-off period.

Before these devices were put on sale, they have been thoroughly checked and tested to ensure that all of them are in full working order. The tests are usually carried out by the seller. These include checking whether the battery charges and if the buttons and cameras work. The audio quality and screen responsiveness, as well as how the phone connects to WiFi and 3G/4G/5G are also verified.

What are the main reasons why you should buy refurbished smartphones?

No one can deny that brand new smartphones are never going to get any cheaper, especially when you notice all the latest releases from Apple and Samsung.

The following are the main reasons why you should opt to buy refurbished mobile phones unlocked rather than brand new ones.

• You will save a lot of money. Refurbished phones for sale are cheaper than brand new devices. More often than not, you will get these mobile phones for almost half of their original value. What's more, if you bought a refurbished phone from a reputable retailer, you can be assured that the device is in pristine condition and unlocked. You will find that the phone will look and perform as good as new.

• You will get more storage for less. If you want to expand your storage on a new phone, you will be forced to shell out a couple of hundred dollars. The opposite can be said for refurbished phones. A 128GB iPhone may sell for $40 or $50 more than a brand new 32GB model out there.

• You will get a device with warranty and return policy. By picking the right deal for refurbished mobile phones unlocked, you will receive smartphones that come with a 12-month warranty that guarantees its pristine condition. You can also get a device that grants you at least a month to return it.

• You can help save the environment. Did you know that everyone generates close to a billion tons of electronic waste every year? A large portion of those e-waste are from mobile phones that were dumped into the landfill. The harmful chemicals from these devices will seep into the air, water, and soil. As such, buying refurbished mobile phones unlocked will help reduce the amount of electronic waste every year.

What smartphones are best bought refurbished?

Refurbished phones actually account for a small fraction of industry sales and they can be a great option for anyone looking for significant savings. More and more people expressed satisfaction with shopping and owning refurbished mobile phones unlocked.

Here are some of the smartphones that are best bought as refurbished mobile phones.

• iPhone XR. This device has become one of Apple's most popular models. This is due to the phone's inclusion of high-end specs and features at a considerably lower asking price than a normal flagship iPhone. The iPhone XR has the traditional LCD screen and comes with an A12 Bionic processor and innovative "notch" design.

• Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G. Believe it or not, this phone is actually better than its successor, the S21 Ultra. This is because the Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G has a Micro SD card slot for expandable storage, the screen is slightly larger and yet uses the same dense 3200x1440 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. It also comes with the powerful 5G-capable Exynos 990 processor, 12GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage.

• Google Pixel 3. This mobile phone is referred to as a new high point for Google's photographic prowess, and it still ranks among the best smartphone cameras in the world. The Google Pixel 3 is incredibly affordable, making it a great value option for you if you want to take great photos, use the device for normal phone stuff, and don't care about much else. Still, the performance of Pixel 3 is fine and it has several features due to an upgrade from Android 9 to Android 11.

• Samsung Galaxy S9. The Galaxy S9 is an exceptional value that performs great. It comes with a sharp 5.8-inch AMOLED screen, dual 12-megapixel rear cameras and 64GB of storage plus Micro SD card expansion. This device is IP68 rated for water and dust resistance, this grants it a battle-tested durability.

• iPhone SE. The iPhone SE has always been considered as Apple's budget iPhone. And you can get it at an even more affordable price when you buy refurbished. This iPhone model mimics the appearance of older iPhones like the iPhone 6, yet comes with the same A13 Bionic processor as the iPhone 11. If you prefer a smaller-sized iPhone with reliable Touch ID fingerprint unlocking and want bezels you can actually grip, then the iPhone SE is the perfect device for you.

• Samsung Galaxy Note 10. The Samsung Galaxy Note series has been a go-to choice for spec nerds and artists alike. This is because of the firm's insistence on packing their September smartphone with the very best components available and the ever-handy S Pen stylus. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 comes with a powerful Exynos 9825 processor, 8GB of RAM, and triple rear camera setup.

• iPhone X. The iPhone X has no home button and the Touch ID fingerprint scanner. However, the device introduced new methods of navigating and unlocking the phone. The iPhone X comes with a 5.8-inch OLED display. It is using a new, longer, screen which makes it look taller and not wider. The OLED technology of this phone means that you are getting deeper blacks and more blinding whites. This makes everything from websites to the photos you take look a little better.

• OnePlus 5T. OnePlus offered budget phones with some of the specs and features of competitors that cost twice or three times as much. The budget-priced OnePlus 5T comes with a bezel design, reasonably powerful internals, a large 6-inch screen and dual rear cameras.

• iPhone XS Max. The iPhone XS Max features an excellent dual rear camera setup, a fast A12 Bionic system-on-chip and wireless charging. The device comes with a 6.5-inch Super Retina OLED display.

• Huawei P30. This device offers a great mix of specs and features, including a 6.1-inch OLED screen with a subtle dew-drop front-facing camera, home-grown 7nm Kirin 980 processor and a strong triple rear camera setup that earns its Leica branding.

Where to buy the best refurbished smartphones?

There are several places where you can purchase refurbished mobile phones unlocked. These include well-known retailers, wireless carriers, smartphone makers, as well as companies that sell refurbished devices exclusively.

The following are some of the best place to buy refurbished iPhone UK and Android devices.

• Apple. Apple is known for its quality customer service. This makes the company one of the best refurbished phone sellers worldwide. All refurbished iPhone devices sold by Apple come with a standard one-year limited warranty. You can also protect them with AppleCare coverage.

• Samsung. This company actively sells refurbished Galaxy phones on its website at a significant discount, good news for Samsung phone fans. These devices were fixed by Samsung's technicians and they come with a one-year warranty, new headphones, and a charger.

• QwikFone. QwikFone has the best deals for Apple, Samsung, Google and OnePlus refurbished mobile phones unlocked. All of the devices sold by QwikFone are in pristine and unlocked condition. They all come with a 12-month warranty and a money back guarantee, as well as a full set of accessories, a free shipping option, and the opportunity to pay in monthly installments using PayPal credit.

• Gazelle. This retailer gives instant offers on phones, pays out via either Amazon gift card, PayPal, or paper checks, and refurbishes the devices you send in to sell to someone else. You can actually approach Gazelle with confidence, that's because every device goes through a lengthy certification process. They also offer a 30-day return policy in case you change your mind.

• Amazon. Amazon, one of the world's largest online retailers, is a great place to shop for refurbished mobile phones unlocked. Amazon buys old phones from consumers, offering Amazon gift cards as payment. It then resells the older phones after testing and making them work and look just like new. Amazon's devices also come with at least a 90-day supplier warranty.

• Best Buy. Best Buy sells quite a few open-box and pre-owned devices, as well as fully certified refurbished models. You are most likely to find the best deals on refurbished and pre-owned devices in Best Buy. For any online-only deals, they can ship the phone directly to you or hold it at your nearest location if you'd rather not worry about potential porch pirates.

Angelika Muderris, she is a passionate writer and also heads the operations at QwikFone.